Luxembourg to triple number of climate adaptation measures

Luxembourg is set to triple the number of climate change adaptation measures, environment minister Serge Wilmes said on Friday, as he presented the latest update to the national strategy first launched seven years ago.

With the effects of climate change getting more and more noticeable, Luxembourg and its citizens need to work together to prepare for the future, Wilmes said.

No overhaul

The previous DP-LSAP-Green coalition government had launched an initial climate change adaptation strategy in 2018.

“But that was seven years ago, so it’s time to revise the whole thing,” said Wilmes, calling the updated plan an “adaptation of the adaptation strategy”.

Wilmes said the previous coalition government still lacked experience when it put together the 42 measures that made up the original plan, creating what he described as vaguely formulated plans and no indicators to measure progress.

Environment Minister Serge Wilmes  © Photo credit: Marc Wilwert / LW-Archiv

But the government is setting an increased number of targets this time around: 131 measures will figure in this strategy across 16 different areas to better prepare for extreme weather and other impacts of climate change. Among the solutions put forward are the planting of more trees and shrubs in public spaces and pushing renaturation efforts for rivers and streams.

The impact of climate change in Luxembourg

“We had almost no snow at all this winter,” said Wilmes on Friday, explaining that this is a consequence of climate change.

Nowadays there is generally less snow in winter, but more rain. Heavy rain is becoming more frequent, often followed by flooding, while temperatures are also rising.

While the average temperature in Luxembourg between 1961 and 1990 was 8.1 degrees celsius, it is currently 9.2 degrees, and could even rise to 11.2 degrees by the end of the century. The number of days on which temperatures fall below zero degrees could drop from the current 84 per year to less than 30 by 2100, with an impact on human and animal life.

The number of measures in the strategy paper could increase significantly, Wilmes said, as he wants to receive feedback from the public on the plans.

In the first consultation phase, which runs from February to March, experts from the public and private sectors will be able to take part in workshops on topics such as dealing with natural disasters and their financial consequences or the resilience of the food system.

In April and May, the general public will also be able to take part in the discussion. Five workshops will be organised for – in Echternach, Steinfort, Esch-sur-Alzette, Hosingen and Walferdange.

(This article was first published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translation, editing and adaptation by Tracy Heindrichs)